Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released from hospital after ’emergent bladder issues’ led to critical care unit visit and passing his duties to deputy for SECOND time
- Austin, 70, returned to the hospital after complications from prostate cancer surgery
- He was admitted in January for the same reason, but did not make his visit public
- The Secretary of Defense handed over his duties to Kathleen Hicks on the same day he was admitted to hospital
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from hospital after being admitted for a bladder problem, marking his second visit this year.
In a statement Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Defense said Austin, 70, was released around 3:30 p.m. and was “recovering well.”
He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on February 11, where he reported discomfort due to a bladder problem related to his prostate cancer surgery in December 2023.
After monitoring by the intensive care team and supportive care, the problem was corrected the next day using non-surgical procedures.
“He remained in good condition throughout and no longer required intensive care on the morning of February 13,” doctors John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut said in a joint statement.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from hospital on Tuesday after undergoing treatment for discomfort and concern due to a bladder problem
Austin, 70, was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland
The 70-year-old handed over his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on the same day he was admitted to hospital.
Maddox is the hospital’s medical director of trauma, while Chesnut is director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research at Murtha Medical Center.
“(Austin) made good progress and was discharged home today. He is expected to continue his full recovery,” the doctors said.
The defense minister resumed full duties at 5 p.m. and will work from home on the advice of his doctors. He is expected to return to work in person later this week.
For now, he will have “full access to the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to carry out his duties,” officials said.
Austin handed over his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on the same day he was hospitalized.
Hicks, the White House, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congress were all notified of his release.
Last month, Austin was criticized when he failed to notify the White House and Pentagon of another hospitalization.
The defense secretary was admitted to Walter Reed on January 1 after complications arose following a procedure to treat his prostate cancer, which had also previously not been made public.
Austin visited Walter Reed last month after complications arose following a procedure to treat his previously undisclosed prostate cancer
The Secretary of Defense apologized “to (his) teammates and to the American people” during a press conference on February 1
Austin was diagnosed with cancer in December and had a prostatectomy performed at the end of the month to treat the disease.
President Biden and Hicks were not informed of the January visit until three days after his hospital stay.
“I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. “I should have told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility,” Austin said at a news conference earlier this month.
“I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”
Austin has agreed to testify before the House Armed Services Committee to answer questions about his delay in notifying officials about the January hospital stay.
A hearing is scheduled for February 29.